Favourite Aston Martin?

Well, I thought I'd better post this before Slowcoach and I totally hijack the Jaguar thread!

So, which is it to be?

To be honest, there isn't an Aston built that I wouldn't have in my garage. Even the DB2/4 Mk3 has a certain charm.

But without further ado, my top five.

DB4 Series 5
V8 Vantage
DBS
DB6 Volante
Ulster

Following on from the Aston chat in the Jaguar thread, this weekend is indeed the Aston meet at Brands. Regrettably, it also clashes with the Snetterton night racing. But having been to the Silverstone StJohn Horsfall meeting and the Donington meet already this year, I am a convert to Aston Martin club racing for sure.

My turn,my turn,my turn........

1) DB4GT Zagato
2) DB4 Series V
3) DB3/4
4) V8 Vantage
5) Virage Vantage

But as TimD says they are all fab. and no-one will ever convince me otherwise , even the later Lagonda is lovely in its own angular way.......

Next meet after BH is Snetterton on the 6th August.....

I don't belieive you two, not a single mention of a DB5. Must be one of the best cars ever built. I must admit to a liking of all Aston's. Used to have a girlfriend who lived just outside Newport Pagnell, almost wrote my car off a few times passing the factory looking at all the gleaming DB's lined up.
The ultimate must be the Vantage that was race prepared and hurled around by Gerry Marshall at AMOC meets, did this this enter Le Man in the mid 70's ??

As for the 4 1/2 Bentley, well I take my hat off to those guy's who raced them, scares me just looking at those skinny tyres amd drum brakes. Came across one en route to Le Mans about 8 years ago, he must have had it wound up on in top gear he blasted passed us, we were a wee bit (about 20mph) above the limit. Some sight. But are these cars not discussed in the Truck & HGV Drivers Forum ???

Simon

The DB5 is indeed gorgeous. I tend not to aspire to one, because people accuse you of having James Bond pretentions.

I mean, they'd be right, but let's not make it easy for them!

Actually, having re-read my posting, an awful omission has just surfaced.

DB3S

I mean, how could I have forgotten it?

Now, the Bentley is something else entirely. The four-and-a-half is the car I dream of. In many ways, Aston Martin took up the role after the war that the Bentley had before. It was Ettore Bugatti who first accused WO Bentley of "making the fastest lorries in the world."

The early ones, the 3-litres, were good for 92mph. Any more than that, and you would snap the crankshaft. This is in 1924, remember. The 4.5 will top 110mph, and with a supercharger, will do more like 125 in standard trim.

The Speed Six, a car built up to 1930, possesses a performance curve not dissimilar to a V-12 Jag.

And all this from a car weighing a ton and a half, with the aerodynamics of a lightly streamlined office block, and with brakes that - frankly - didn't.

If you've never seen vintage Bentley racing, the club has its annual raceday at Silverstone on the first Saturday of September. The Bentley drivers are a sporting lot, and they send out invitations to the Aston Martin, AC and Morgan clubs to bring their best and compete with them.

It's a day's racing like no other.

OK SL , I admit it I have a corgi model of THAT DB5 on my mantlepiece and a print of it hanging on the wall and if money was no object I would have one in my garage , for Xmas I got the complete set of JB videos and once upon a time I even had THE music on my answerphone message , a dog called Q , a horse called Moneypenny and a goldfish named M - but I'm not sad really.........

Thank heaven you didn't buy a cat....

What's wrong with naming a cat Bloefeld?;)

TimD, Slowcoach,

Glad I at last got the truth, you both work for MI6, but SSSssshhhh. Must not let the reds get wind of it !!...

Did JB not have a Bentley before the Aston ?? Even further proof, sorry for the late reply but I have been on a posting in the Caribbean, Jamaica, Barbados and Havana. Can't say any more as it is secret (nudge, nudge, wink wink.)

I may well be the one dribbling over the Bentley's at Silverstone on the 21/23 July.

Simon

Putting away my buttonhole microcamera, and laying down the personal helicopter cunningly disguised as a fountain-pen, I find myself with time enough between espionage assignments to reply!

In the original Ian Fleming novels, James Bond is described as owning a supercharged Bentley, which he has had modified to such an extent that Rolls-Royce have disavowed any further responsibility for it.

It sustains serious damage in the "Moonraker" novel, when Hugo Drax uses his contemporary Mercedes to force the Bentley, and an innocent Alfa Romeo Monza off the road. Can you imagine the expense of trying to film that??

The Aston Martin is a mere "pool" car which is given to Bond in the "Goldfinger" novel. No DB5 this. The book predates the launch of that one, so Bond's first Aston is in fact a grey DB2/4 Mk3.

I believe that there is a fleeting glimpse of Bond's private car near the start of the movie "From Russia With Love." However, it is a little while since I've seen the film, and I seem to recall that the car had more than a suspicion of 2-litre Lagonda about it.

Originally posted by TimD
It sustains serious damage in the "Moonraker" novel, when Hugo Drax uses his contemporary Mercedes to force the Bentley, and an innocent Alfa Romeo Monza off the road. Can you imagine the expense of trying to film that??

Hmm.

As I recall he was on his way to Dover when he got into a dice with a Lotus (possibly Elite) whilst following a lorryload of Paper Rolls. The rolls broke free (subsequently discovered as a bungled attempt on Bond's life) and put the Elite into a field.

Terribly sorry to get back to the original thread, but I'd just like to mention,

1. DBR1
2. Project Astons (As I recall I think 212 is the prettiest)
3. Dave Ellis's new Aston thing (I don't know what it actually is, but it looks stunning).

It was on show at the AMOC meeting at Silverstone and looks a bit like a bright yellow cross between a V8 Vantage and the Batmobile.

Also, the Aston that raced at Le Mans in the 70's isn't the same as the Marsh Plant car most recently campaigned by Gerry Marshall (no relation - ho ho), I have a feeling it was put together by Robin something, and I'm sure it was for sale a couple of years ago, still resplendant in its union jack livery.

Right, I'll let you all get back to the James Bond stuff now....

DB4GT Zagato. Original or sanction 2. I don't care as long as I have one.

Why? That combination of Italian styling with British unburstable engineering.;)

Another vote for the DB4 here, I just prefer the first version of the car rather than the DB5. As such, I’d also nominate an earlier version rather than a Series V for example, which were lighter and I also prefer the original front end styling. I would however like to include some later model features & a 4.2 engine built with the latest tricks!

Second would be a DB3S, I would put this first but it is a bit unrealistic and impractical.

Third would be a V8 Vantage, it looked really great in The Living Daylights (obligatory Bond reference!).

Fourth is a later version of the DB2 with the slatted grille.

Fifth – the current model V8 Vantage, although I’d be interested to see the inevitable facelifted version.

If I was naming 10, I would include the twin supercharged Virage Vantage, a prewar model (don’t know much about them really), a shooting brake or sedan version of the Virage (memories of a magazine article on them in the early 90s), DB4 GT or Zagato and shooting brake version of a DB5 or DB6.

I suppose it would be fair to say that almost every Aston made constitutes a favourite for me, but some more so than others. I'll start my (long) list with the latest. Taken at Brands last May, a V8 Vantage, a stunning car like all the recent Astons. Not my favourite colour though. What is it with this love of bland silver, grey and gun metal colours that seems to have gone on now for the best part of 20 years? Give me some proper colours any time (no offence to anyone else, just a personal opinion!):-

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7711/brandshatchamoc1may2006qb9.th.jpg (http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=brandshatchamoc1may2006qb9.jpg)

Someone has been on the ball, last year at the Classic Adelaide Rally I spotted an Aston DB9 parked, with a registration plate that was quite a good score (also a change from silver colour John!) Sorry the photo is a bit blurry, it looked ok on the camera's screen at the time.

http://images.fotopic.net/yljyff.jpg

"Which Aston Martin do you like" is similar to which Supermodel do you wish to erm, entertain? All of them of course. ;)

Aston Martin, unlike very few other car makers have never made an undesirable car.

Agree with you, there, David. Perhaps we should start a thread listing those marques that build cars, all of which are automatically classics as soon as they leave the factory.

Now, how's this for oneupmanship? Spotted at the Britcar 24 hours meeting at Silverstone last September:-

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/2308/silverstonebritcar24h9seq2.th.jpg (http://img242.imageshack.us/my.php?image=silverstonebritcar24h9seq2.jpg)

I always remember being at the first Silverstone Classic meeting when we came across Rowan Attkinson DB2 ,a friend asked[non racer]why would anyone want to "racer one of those",I must addmit that I could not think of a reason,then I was asked to race one at LeMans last year,now i know the answer!

I'd love to race one; who needs a reason? Taken at AMOC, Silverstone last year, an early DB2 with a Le Mans History finishing 13th overall in 1951, and 7th overall in 1952. MKC 306 (chassis no. LML/50/57) still driven on the road and still raced. Can't get much better than that:-

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/627/silverstoneamoc1july200pm9.th.jpg (http://img443.imageshack.us/my.php?image=silverstoneamoc1july200pm9.jpg)

What a tough question!

I think i'd go for the DB5.... It rates very highly on the coolness factor.

It is a toughie! Out of the current crop I would take the DB9, beacause out of the current modern somewhat "soul less" car designs that manufacturers use there is something about it that makes me want to stare at it for hours. Oh and the V12 has a beautiful sound too.

The same would apply to the old DB5, however I think I would just stare at it and never get in the thing!

The old Vantage from the 90's, I love the sheer prescence and power the thing has.

Well I haven't found a pic of a DB5 so far, but this is about as close as you'll get without actually being one. This is a DB4 Series 5. It has the stretched wheelbase of the DB5, the faired in headlamps from the DB4GT introduced with the series 4, and most series 5 cars also had the Vantage engine, although I'm not sure whether this one has it. The only key difference between this and a DB5, is the engine size. It retains the 3.7 litre engine, whereas, of course, the DB5 had/has the 4.0 litre engine. Taken at Brands Hatch, AMOC meeting in May, 2006:-

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/1294/brandshatchamoc1may2006qc4.th.jpg (http://img103.imageshack.us/my.php?image=brandshatchamoc1may2006qc4.jpg)

Talking of favourite Astons, I think that the current V8 Vantage is rapidly coming towards the top of my list. Has anyone seen the article in the current issue of EVO? Aston's have dropped a V12 into the car and are considering putting it into limited production. Currently called the Vantage V12 RS (drop the RS guys!), what an absolutely stunning looking rocketship that will be, if it goes ahead!

DB4 GT Superleggara was a car I worked on quite a bit in the late 1960s.

I have never forgiven my wife's late uncle who lived on Long Island NYS for failing to leave me his Carmen Red/white hide/white Wilton Short Chassis DB4GT, which had all the right bits; Borranni 60 spoke comp chrome wheels with triple eared knock offs; triple Webers; ZF LimSLip Axle, etc.

He bought it many years ago when it was almost new from a lawyer in California, who had advertised it as an Aston Healey. It had been bought by an up and coming starlet for her image: she apparently drove it around the block twice and scared herself to death!

Unc thinking this was a typo and should have been Austin Healey jumped on an internal flight and finished up buying the Aston, rather than an Austin Healey (!!!) and drove it back to Long Island.

It lived in his basement garage under a dust cover as he was paranoid that it might be scratched! Had less than 10K miles on the clock when he passed on to the car park in the sky a few years ago.

It was one of these that Moss used to win the TT at Goodwood and afterwards he recounted that it was so comfortable to drive, he spent his time out front, listening to the radio!

Apart from that, I'd really the love the protoype Lola Aston Martin V8 that Nick Cussons used to try and drive me off the track in the 1972 6 hour relay at Thruxton in streaming wet! I was driving one of our Midgets and was out on the circuit as the heavy rain started - on slicks......................

Cussons, who'd gone off in practice (in the dry!) wiping all the coolant pipes off underneath in a spinning steaming cloud of greengrocery and water vapour, decided to try and emulate Rhindt just before the chicane. (Rhindt had gone straight on and right through an ad hoarding in an FII Lotus! As he would). Somehow Cussons managed to turn right!

What a fantastic sound that experimental V8 made on open pipes!

Forerunner, of course, to the DBSV8: I drove one for a couple of weeks in 1973. OK but not as a nice a car as the DB4GT.

Something that might be of interest, a local Aston specialist is making DB4 GT Zagato style cars based on DBS': http://www.brooklands.com/

DB4 Gt Zagato for me too
Project 212

Takes me back to September 1973. I went to work for someone with a DBS Vantage. That is the one without the chrome grille, but with Vantage 6 engine and wire wheels.

He had paid 6,500GBP for it and I had to take it to Leeds for its 3,000 mile service. Bearing in mind I drove a Mini at the time, and had never ever driven an automatic before, I think you can imagine how I felt, picking up this enormous supercar, in the rush hour, in the middle of the city... Later on, got up to 100mph, and the acceleration from then to 120mph was staggering! I backed off as the fuel gauge was visibily moving, and I hadn't got much cash...

Less than a year later, I had to take it to the auctions down south. It eventually sold for 4,200GBP - so the depreciation was more than my wage...

Anyone know what happened to it, Maroon, OUG 620 L?

Was the James Bond one a DB4? I had the model as a kid with the man flying out the ejector seat.

Great thread; obviously I'm a bit biased but a V8 Aston; road or race car - Dad owned the original factory/press V8.

The V8 would be closely followed by a DBR4 Grand Prix car, the first car I remember seeing my Dad race.

Thirdly would be a DB4, especially after finding one for Dad to race in the '80s and the enjoyment he had racing them and the technology that subsequently went into it, especially from F1 people, no names mentioned.

I'd love an Aston, any sort!!

Mudbug - the Bond Aston was the DB5.

Synchronicity!

Just an hour ago, I bumped into and had a rather nice chat with the webmaster of the AMOC site!

Who is also, of course a long term member of AMOC.

He also rather loves the short chassis Zagatto DB4GT.

If you have upwards of a spare £500,000 and you can find one for sale.................

S-F - what do you think of the Zagato style car based on the DBS? See link above

Not a lot.

As with so many of these replicas, it relies on a donor vehicle of much later vintage, for running gear and invariably, engine/transmission.

So all you really finish up with, is an exterior look-a-like.

(Same with all of the Jag C type and D type creations: they use much later XJ6 engines, suspension etc. Not the same at all).

I did quite a bit of work to a DB4 Superleggera in 1968, belonging to an ex Ford Europe colleague. Which entailed driving the car when finished for testing and final tuning.

The whole ethos of that period of Aston was a combination of the wonderfully crisp power from the classic straight six twin OHC and the almost truck-like gearbox!

The later six in the DBS was somewhat more refined.

Worth recalling two things about Astons of that era.

First, the straight six TOHC engine had originally been designed by of all people, W O Bentley, when he was working for Lagonda cars; Lagonda went into receivership and the assets were bought by David Brown and added to his Aston venture.

Second, David Brown was mainly, a manufacturer of truck transmissions: and he insisted that Aston used his gearboxes!

So the period Aston had a sort of raw surging power from a racing heritage straight six and a pretty slow gearchange!

All that said, however, the short chassis DB4 GT was the first "production" car to achieve 0 to 100 MPH and back to nought in less than 20 seconds!

Thanks to Girling disk brakes.

Pretty to look at and pretty impressive to drive them!

I drove a later DBSV8 for a fortnight, which one of my wealthy clients wanted to sell. It was only six months old, no mileage and he'd already bought a new Rolls Shadow, 'cos he found it hurt his back getting into and out of the Aston!

Nice car, but not the instant pleasing heritage of the earlier cars.

Nice site here:

http://www.donrose.com/DB4GT-LW.html

Fair comments & I agree, although wasn’t the WO Bentley designed 6cyl the earlier DB2-3 unit at under 3L capacity, which was replaced by the Tadek Marek designed engine in the DB4?

In this case I gather it is a complete re-skin of the base car, and presumably a new interior to match. It doesn’t look like the wheelbase is shortened as per the original car, so presumably it would also weigh a significant amount more – the driving feel would have to be a fair amount removed from an original car. I guess it depends on how much emphasis you place on the driving rather than the ambience.

Not to mention that finding a good 6cyl DBS will become harder if they take off, but I can see that you would like one that looks like a DB4GT-Z rather than the comparatively plain and dumpy styling of the DBS. The later O-I and Vantage versions were better looking and also performing with the V8 of course.

Yes, howver the later engine owed much to W O's design.

Both the twin cam Aston and Jag engines also owed much to the early racing Delage and Sunbeams, too.

For me, both the Jags (I have owned many!) and the Astons were simply classic cars of that era.

Trying to recreate the past is OK, but all too often it's simply the case that the "Skin" as you state, is a sort of lookalike which moves significantly away from the original ethos. And, as again you state, the dimensions tend to be predicated by modern running gear from the clone.

As an example, if you drive an original XK120, in fact, both the suspension/steering and in particular brakes were awful!

The early 3.8 E Type's brakes were equally disastrous!

As were all the E type range in terms of roadholding, in practical terms.

But what a lovely car to drive! I had two: a 4.2 FHC and a series 1 1/2 4.2 drophead.

Which really demonstrates how fantastically able were the guys who raced Jags so successfully.

For me, the original breed of Astons were a sort of combination of brutish growley power, combined with a truck gearchange: but such awesome style.

A few years ago, various small car designers made ugly glass-bodied recreations of a sort of MG 30s/40s style (TA/TC/TD/TF) with a range of pretty horrible engines going from Triumph Herald to BMC rustbucket!

Buyers would have been far better served, IMHO to save up a few more pennies and find a half decent Morgan needing some TLC!

It is possible to recreate an earlier car: as did my old acquaintance, Nigel Webb, the Jag freak, when he built an absolutley slavishly accurate replica of Hawthorn's MK I saloon.

http://www.mike-hawthorn.org.uk/881vdu.php

However, Nigel always was pendantic and worked very, very hard at sourcing all the correct bits for all of his restorations, even 39 years ago, when I first knew him.

from the new astons that are around

the DBS
and the racing DBRS9

Favourite Aston? I do love some of the classic GT's, particularly the DB4... but all my real favourite cars from that era are Italian.

So I hope the classic fans will forgive my neanderthal tastes when I say by far my favourite Aston is the 1999 Vantage Le Mans. The last truly awe inspiring Aston.

Although the DB9 is unquestionably a beautiful piece of design, I really can't get to like the latest era of cars. The DB7 was an expensive but rubbish XJS, the Vanquish merely proved that Aston can make cars more brittle and less reliable than Maserati, and the latest V8 Vantage is overpriced, underpowered and frankly a bit of an insult to the Vantage name.

Remembering of course Garcon, that Carrozzeria Touring, Zaggato and Touring, Milan all had a hand in generating the Aston styling from versions of the DB2/4 and the DB4 and GT.

http://www.designmuseum.org/design/aston-martin

True... probably how cars like the DB4 manage to sneak under my 50s/60s radar - one that's usually full of Ferraris and Masers. :)

Actually interesting to look back at various cars now.

As an example, the Alvis TD21 Graber (Switzerland) designed car.

Stephen Fry using one in his new ITV series has probably driven up the price!

Nice looking set of wheels!

Look at the pics of the dropheads.

http://www.motorbase.com/profiles/vehicle/picture.ehtml?i=245;p=1753391547